Grapple.



No. 744,583. I PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

M. S. MEADERS.

GRAPPLE.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 6, 1903.

NO MODEL.

- ahwntoz @vmmm 22,472?? fizizmdera.

Gnome/1;

Patented November 17, 1903.

PATENT 'OFEIeE.

MARTIN S. MEADERS, OF SOLGOHACHIA, ARKANSAS.

GRAPPLVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,583, dated November 17, 1903.

Application filed May 6, 1903. $erial No. 155.938. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: g

Be it known that I, MARTIN S. MEADERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Solgo= hachia, in the county of Conway and State of Arkansas, have invented new'and useful Improvements in Grapples, of which the following is a specification. l This invention relates to grapples, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective grappling implement especially adapted for use in removing from'wells and other deep places wooden or metal buckets and other articles which may have become accidentally disconnected from the usual hoisting-rope and lost. The construction of the grapple is such that it is adapted to automatically engage and obtain a firm hold upon the bucket or other article by simply dropping the grapple to the bottom of thewell or other place in which the article lies. The device is also adapted to be operatedby hand from the top of the well whenever necessary. With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construc tion, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical longitudinal section through a grap ple constructed in accordance with the pres ent invention, showing the spring-actuated prongs thrown out in full lines and folded in dotted lines. I

The frame of the grapple'comprises, essen: tially, a pair of sides 1, which may be formed either of wood or metal and which are held at the proper distance apart by means of a stop block 2, located adjacent to the lower 1 end of the side pieces, and a spacing-block or cross-cleat 3, arranged near the upper end of the frame, the side pieces being secured firmly together at suitable points by means of bolts or rivets,as shown.

At the lowerend of the frame is a spearpoint 4, fastened by means of a rivet or other suitable fastener 5 between the side pieces 1 and the frame, the lower extremity of said point being sharpened, as shown at 6, and provided adjacent thereto with reversely-extending beards 7, which are adapted to catch into a wooden bucket or other article when the extremity of the point is driven into the same, as will be readily understood.

The stop 2 extends lengthwise of the frame, and upon opposite sides thereof are arranged prongs 8, pivoted at 9 between the sides of the frame, with their heel ends 10 resting against the opposite sides of the stop, as

shown, said stop thereby serving to limit the inward movement of the heel ends and'the outward movement of the sharpenedextremi- ,ties 11 of the prongs, which extremities normally project beyond and outside of the frame, as shown in the drawing. The prongs 8 are normally thrown outward by means of one or more spreader-springs 12. By preference the spring 12 is made in one piece, so as. to' extend through between the sides of the prongs and the central portion of which has attached thereto the lower end of a prong operating or controlling wire or rope 15, which extends upward through a groove 16 in the spacing-block 3 and is provided at its upper end with a finger-loop 17 by means of which the wire orrope may be operated. 7

l8 designates a supporting or suspending ring connected with the top of the frame, so that the device as a whole may be lowered into and removed from a well by means of an ordinary hoisting rope or cable.

hold on the bucket or other object, enabling the latter to be hoisted to the surface of the ground.

Instead of forming the spring 12 in one piece separate springs may be used for each pivoted prong. The spreading of the prongs 8 is also contributed to by the spring connection 14, which tends to assume a straight position when the prong-operating wire 15 is released. The spring connection 14 may be provided with one or more coils 19 to assist in spread-- ing the pivoted prongs. It will therefore be apparent that the invention is susceptible of changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of I construction, which accordingly may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, I claim as new 1. A grapple comprising a frame, embodying spaced sides, a stop -block arranged between the sides, pivotally-mounted prongs arranged at opposite sides of the stop-block and between the sides of the frame, one or more springs for normally urging the points of the prongs outward, and a prong-operating device for drawing the prongs inward within the plane of the frame, substantially as described.

2. A grapple comprising a frame consisting of side pieces spaced apart and united, prongs pivotally mounted intermediate their ends between the side pieces, a spring for throwing the points of the prongs outward, a stop interposed between the heel ends of the prongs for limiting their outward movement and a prong-operating device for simultaneously drawing both prongs inward within the plane of the frame, substantially as described.

3. A grapple comprising a frame, pivotallymounted prongs carried thereby, a spring connection interposed between the prongs for normally urging the points thereof outward beyond the plane of the frame, and. an operating connection attached to the spring connection for drawing the points of the prongs inward within the plane of the frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

MARTIN S. MEADERS.

Witnesses:

G. A. SCRAGGIN, I. W. BIRD. 

